MADISON, Wis. – Veteran Wisconsin political and communications operatives Andrew Hitt, Ben Voelkel and Heather Smith announced Wednesday they have formed On The Rail Advisors, a new public affairs firm that will leverage innovative technologies from political campaigns and apply them to corporate and non-profit clients. On The Rail Advisors will combine on-the-ground action with cutting-edge tools to ensure organizations are positioned for success.
Together, the trio brings a combined 7 decades of public affairs and strategic communications expertise and a demonstrated record of success and deep relationships that span Republicans, Democrats, grassroots activists and members of the media.
“At some point, nearly every organization and business finds itself needing to communicate and build support for its strategy,” Hitt said. “On The Rail Advisors will be an indispensable partner to help you turn your biggest business and policy challenges into game-changing opportunities.”
Andrew Hitt has spent much of his career working in public affairs and communications advising public officials and those interacting with public officials. He was a senior member of Governor Walker’s administration as Deputy Legal Counsel, Senior Advisor, and then Assistant Deputy Secretary at both the Department of Health and Department of Administration. He eventually became Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin navigating a tumultuous time in politics. He spent nearly a decade at a Wisconsin-based national consulting firm where he specialized at the intersection of politics, policy, and law.
Ben Voelkel has more than 15 years of experience advising senior leaders in businesses and politics on how to communicate their messages persuasively and effectively. He spent 9 years in Washington, DC where he worked at a top public affairs firm that advised Fortune 500 clients and held senior communication roles in the offices of Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (TX) and Senator Ron Johnson. Ben is a veteran of 8 statewide campaigns, including three winning U.S. Senate campaigns and his own run for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor.
Heather Smith is a veteran of local, state and national-level politics, and has achieved national recognition for exceptional work in creative messaging. She served as Policy Director for the Speaker of the Assembly and Chief of Staff for leadership of the state budget-writing committee for a decade. Smith served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Scott Walker overseeing budget and policy initiatives before being appointed Wisconsin’s Medicaid Director.
Learn more at www.otradvisorsllc.com and inquire about OTR’s services by emailing info@otradvisorsllc.com.
[Photo (L/R): Andrew Hitt; Ben Voelkel; and Heather Smith]
Last Update: Nov 13, 2024 11:47 am CST
